Karen Lopez is a Sr. Project Manager and Architect at InfoAdvisors. As a Microsoft MVP, she specializes in the practical application of data management principles.  Her speaking style is interactive and engaging. An active blogger, speaker and social networker as @datachick, she hopes to influence attendees to love their data.

She is a chronic volunteer, a frequent speaker on diversity in technology, data policy, open data and emerging technologies and a sometimes runner.  She's also known for her enthusiasm for all things space-related.

Sessions

Karen discusses five (plus a few more) database design blunders with tips on how to avoid them. Audience members will also be able to contribute their war stories of design fails, WTHs and D'ohs.
Let's debate database design issues: NULLs, surrogate keys, datatypes, RI and more
An overview of the architectural reasons to consider cloud-based SQL Server solutions and insights into the differences you need to know between Windows Azure SQL Database and on-premises SQL Server.
Learn about 7 SQL and NoSQL databases: how they work, when to use them, and how they form a modern data architecture
Learn about keys and how to get them right.
Data architects and DBAs have debated database design best practices for decades. Join us for some great debates and laughs.
Learn about graph databases and how they are implemented in SQL Server vNext
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